Missouri v. Johnson

Pending

Overview

GLAD joined a friend-of-the-court brief submitted by The Center for HIV Law and Policy and the Missouri ACLU on behalf of Michael Johnson, a former Missouri college student sentenced to more than 30 years for violating Missouri’s HIV transmission and exposure statute. In late December 2016, the Missouri Court of Appeals reversed Johnson’s conviction. While Johnson’s case was remanded pending a new trial, the reversal is a positive step in the fight against HIV criminalization.

GLAD has joined a friend-of-the-court brief submitted by The Center for HIV Law and Policy (CHLP) and the Missouri ACLU on behalf of Michael Johnson, a former Missouri college student sentenced to more than 30 years for violating Missouri’s HIV transmission and exposure statute.

In late December 2016, the Missouri Appeals Court reversed Johnson’s conviction. While Johnson’s case was remanded pending a new trial, the reversal is a positive step in the fight against HIV criminalization.

From the CHLP release on the amicus brief:

The brief argues that Missouri’s criminal HIV law is irrational and at odds with federal law that prohibits singling out a group of people for uniquely punitive treatment based on their identity or health status. Twenty-two national and state organizations joined CHLP on the brief, including GLAD, the American Academy of HIV Medicine, Human Rights Campaign, Center for Constitutional Rights, Missouri AIDS Task Force and Empower Missouri. Read more